Le Gurp.

Le Gurp is a beach break on the northern tip of the Medoc peninsula, where the exposed Atlantic coastline pulls in consistent swell from a wide SW-to-NW window. The break is entirely sand-bottomed, producing shifting a-frame peaks that tend to favour lefts when the banks align correctly. On bigger swells, those lefts can run for 100-200m with genuine tube sections - a combination of steep entry and a fast, welling wall that rewards surfers who can read the bank quickly. Wave depth data shows a mix of shallow and flat-spotted sections, meaning quality varies considerably between peaks and between tides. The break handles all tides but the incoming tide is noted as the most productive phase for shape. Rip currents are a constant feature here and effectively rule the spot out for beginners regardless of conditions. A set of WWII concrete bunkers sits at the waterline - visible reference points at low tide, submerged hazards at high - a reminder of how dramatically this coastline has eroded over the past 80 years. When Le Gurp is working, the lineup fills with local intermediates and travelling surfers who know the stretch. Attitude exists in the water when conditions are good. The adjacent beaches of La Negade to the north and Depee near the Euronat naturist camp offer alternative banks worth checking on the same session.

Lefts that run 200 metres where the Medoc banks align and tube.